One of the busiest areas in Calgary for development and heritage issues is Victoria Crossing - (re-branded Victoria Park BRZ- the longtime name of the district - at the turn of 2010) in particular First Street SW. Here is some news of the street, north to south.
Latest updates here March 2009 - see the last post.
Drum and Monkey (Aull Block)
Rumour has it that this corner building, and the single storey buildings to the south are for sale. Does anyone know more? The building on the left is the former Night Gallery building - news on that below.
In the 1960s, Joni Mitchell launched her career singing folk songs in a club called "The Depression" at 1207A 1st Street SW. That would be the grey/black building in the photo, more recently home to Euphoria, the Venue and other nightclubs. Currently vacant. There is a 'for lease' sign on the building (April 29 2007).
Application DP2007-4268 at 1207 1 ST SW – The permit is for a change of use to restaurant/retail for Giuseppe Market. (January 2008)[/b] Guiseppi Italian Market (2012)
Information about The Depression at jonimitchell.com. Search for "The Depression".
Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/entheos_fog/
Night Gallery / Fraternal Order of Eagles
The old CIBC building on the SE corner of 1st Street and 12th Avenue is the home to Formans Fashion Group. Owner Sadru Peerani has purchased the old Night Gallery building on the west side of the street with plans renovate it for upscale retail on the main floor (recently the unluckily named B&E Grocery) and use the old Night Gallery space upstairs for offices. (info from the Herald's David Parker) The building looks unremarkable now, but it looked quite different when it was built around 1910 as the 'aerie' of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. You can see then and now photos below. In mid-century the upstairs may have been a Penley's dance hall - can anyone confirm that? Back in the 1980s I recall it being the home and semi-public pad of 'Dino' of the Golden Calgarians. If anyone knows anything more, post below or send a note to info@calgaryheritage.org
The 'today' photo of the building as it is now by Entheos Fog http://www.flickr.com/photos/entheos_fog/
The historic photo below is on the Glenbow site, www.glenbow.org. On the left is The 'Night Gallery' building in 1910 - aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. The two-storey building up the street burned and was replaced by the Drum and Monkey building in the 1920s. The Pryce-Jones Department Store (Manhattan Lofts) has not been built yet. That's the Grain Exchange building in the distance.
Radio Block
Just south of the Night Gallery building is the "Edgar Block", a building that used to be NYLA nightclub. There is presently a "for lease sign" on the building (April 29, 2007). (rumour of a furniture store going in - March 2008) Confirmed: Art gallery going in - July 2008. See the post below: http://www.calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/vi ... =1346#1346
Next to that is the distinctive Radio Block on the NW corner of 1st Street and 13th Avenue, where there are changes coming...
Radio Block
(1215 - 1 Street SW)
[i]The Radio Block was built in 1922, as a commercial/apartment building adding to the important commercial corridor of First Street SW at the time. CFCN Radio started broadcasting that same year, and while they were never located in the Radio Block, the building was named to celebrate the release of this new broadcasting medium.
In the 1980s it was the home of the notable Tasmanian Ballroom. For the last several years it has housed the Cherry Lounge and the Castle Pub. There are plans to convert most of the building into a Jameison's Irish Pub ( March 2008 - this plan was refused by the City due to parking requirements - Cherry Lounge and Castle Pub may remain...), and the rest into offices and retail. The historic flavour is expected to remain intact. New See the post below dated April 29 2007 for more information.
Calgary built very little between the two world wars due to recession and depression, so this is an unusual standout from 1922, with a somewhat more 'modern' look than its predecessors. The history in italics above is from the Victoria Crossing website and December 2006 newsletter. www.vcrossing.com. The photo is by CHI member Entheos Fog http://www.flickr.com/photos/entheos_fog/
Underwood (Mescalero's) Haultain Park
Moving south, The Union Square project on 1st Street SW, which involves the preservation of 'core' of the old Underwood Block / Mescalero's, and the improvement on nearby Haultain Park, had been on hold for a few months but is now moving ahead with construction. 'Phase 1' of the park improvements was completed in November 2006. For more information and a photo of the 'dig', go to this thread: http://www.calgaryheritage.org/CHIForum/vi ... ?p=700#700
IODE Building
Across the street is a pit where the Colours condo is being developed. When a 1940s building was demolished, it revealed this 'Dunlop Tires' sign painted on the side of the IODE building. Covered up for over 60 years, the sign is well-preserved. (Note: Covered up again by Colours construction by fall 2007)